Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Tuesday, 21 October 2008 07:18
Opinion and Analysis
Page 2 of 3
New users who don’t have any FireWire equipment, or equipment with both a USB and FireWire connection won’t be too concerned, but whatever happened to looking after your loyal customers, some who are totally fanatical about Apple?
Why did Apple choose to save what is presumably a few cents on each unit just to annoy its userbase? It just doesn’t seem to make sense.
There’s also the removal of the Target Disk Mode feature that FireWire enabled, making the lives of those who fix broken Apples much easier. Now they’ll have to physically remove the hard disk and pop it into an enclosure and go to work that way.
It’s only a small thing, but still annoying – and unnecessary.
Even Apple’s decision to include only a paltry two USB ports is maddening, but at least it’s not lumbered with a single USB port as with the MacBook Air.
Likewise, omitting something as standard as an ExpressCard slot from the MacBook means no external FireWire card can be added, while also reducing the computer’s expandability. Is this planned obsolescence or what?
While the FireWire firestorm continues burning, it’s a storm that will eventually pass. Those that need FireWire will simply have to bite the bullet and hand over the cash for a MacBook Pro, or buy a small Windows-based notebook instead.
It’s Apple’s way, or the highway – continued on page 3.
